Abstract
Originally intended to protect people in fragile situations, the concept of vulnerability has become so prevalent in political, social and scientific discourse that it risks losing its operational value. It was thus necessary to clarify the social implications and linguistic issues involved, by conducting research in settings where people considered to be vulnerable are concentrated (prisons, hospitals, medical-social institutions, etc.).The contributions to this book study situations in which people encounter difficulties related to illness, dependence, exclusion, social invisibility or precariousness. The discursive modalities through which vulnerability is created, transformed or exacerbated in our social relations were examined, with the hope of contributing to the emergence of other forms of social ties or solidarity.